U.N. Warns of Growing Islamic State Terrorist Threat

[Valin]

Foreign Policy:

John Hudson

June 2, 2016

 

The Islamic State has been linked to the deaths of more than 500 civilians in countries including Belgium and the United States in the past six months alone. The months ahead could be even bloodier.

 

That’s the sobering conclusion of a new review of the Islamic State’s rise by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. It noted that the Islamic State has inspired or carried out the killing of civilians in 11 countries, not counting the group’s attacks in its strongholds of Iraq, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, and Yemen.

 

“The global threat from ISIL remains high and continues to diversify,” Ban wrote, using an alternate acronym for the group. “Recent international attacks perpetrated by members of ISIL demonstrate that the terrorist group is now moving into a new phase, with the increased risk that well-prepared and centrally directed attacks on international civilian targets may become a more frequent occurrence.”

 

The report follows a year in which the Islamic State steadily lost territory in both Iraq and Syria, where a surge in U.S. and allied airstrikes has destroyed vital oil fields controlled by the group, dramatically curbing its oil revenues.

 

(Snip)

 

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